FOMO (fear of missing out) isn’t just about what your friends are doing. If you’re a techie, you also feel FOMO whenever a hot new phone comes out. But if you aren’t rich, buying a new phone every year or two is not an option. Is it worth it to buy a refurbished used phone? Here, we’ll look at the pros and cons of buying a new phone vs used phone.
New phone vs used phone pros & cons
Pros of buying a new phone:
Obviously, the only reason to avoid a new phone is the higher price — and maybe the extra hour or two you’ll need to get it set up. And while the pros of buying a new phone might also seem obvious, having them in a list can help you decide which ones are important for you. So, here are the biggest pros of buying a new phone:
New features: Do you care about having the newest mobile tech, even if it isn’t much different than the last generation? Only a new flagship phone will let you play with the latest tech features. Plus, you’ll also get more future software updates to install.
No mo’ FOMO: If the newest tech or newest design makes you feel too cool for school, then only a new, high-end phone will do that for you. You’ll feel confident you have one of the hottest devices out there — at least until the next hot flagship phone comes out.
Peace of mind: Because all new phones come with a manufacturer warranty and also extended warranty options, you can worry less about accidental drops, dunks, or defects.
Resell and recoup: You can recoup some of your initial investment in a new phone when you eventually trade it in, or sell it. This is especially true for iPhones and top-brand Android phones.
Cons of buying a used phone:
When it comes to the drawbacks of buying a used phone vs new phone, they’re pretty much the opposite of the above:
Older features: You won’t have the newest features, but if you aren’t the type to feel phone FOMO and you just need a phone that works well, then you likely won’t miss those new “bells and whistles”.
Social stigma, real or imagined: If you care what others might think about your phone, then you’ll either want to stick with a newer refurbished phone, or invest in also buying a nice phone case to cover the phone’s design or model number.
Less battery life: Unless you buy a refurbished phone with a newer battery (that would be in the seller’s description), then you’ll likely have to charge your used phone more often. But, that may not matter much if you are usually somewhere near a wall outlet, or if you have a good portable charger.
Less warranties or returns: If you buy a used phone on a general resale site like eBay or Craigslist, you’re taking a risk that the the seller is honest. And usually, such sellers don’t offer warranties on used items. But thankfully, you can get a warranty or guarantee if you buy from a reputable online reseller who specializes in refurbished phones.
Pros of buying a used phone:
Now that we have the bad stuff out of the way, let’s list the pros of buying a refurbished used phone:
Still-great features: These days, even mid-range, 1-2 year-old phones still have lots of exciting features. And lately, many new phone features are in the software, rather than hardware. So if your refurbished phone isn’t too old, you often can get newer features and security patches by installing software updates.
Sizable savings: Buying a used phone means you’ll have more money to spend on other things. How much you can save depends on the phone’s age, condition, how it compares to newer models, and other factors. And if you buy a used iPhone — known for better quality and higher resale value than many Android phones — then you’ll likely save even more if you keep it longer.
More wear, less care: If you save a lot of money on a used phone, you might feel less concerned about accidentally damaging it — or even losing it. Because if that happens, you can just buy another inexpensive used phone.
More choices: It seems odd to think, but when you choose to buy used phones, you’ll have a lot more options. This can be a little daunting but if you make a list of what you want in a phone, you can quickly narrow down your choices to certain brands and years.
Good resellers value quality: Good resellers list the condition of each device up front — such as “good” or “excellent” — and they explain what to expect with each rating. No reseller will ever sell you a non-working device on purpose if they value your business. If you do need to return a phone, the best resellers offer guarantees and return options.
Feelin’ green: If you care about your own “carbon footprint” on our planet, then buying a used phone will make you feel better. That’s because you’re not using any new resources for manufacturing or transportation, other than some newer parts for the refurbishing process and the resources to ship your phone to you.
Now you decide!
Now that you’ve considered our list of new phone vs used phone pros and cons, you should have an easier time deciding which is best for you. Did we leave anything out?
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